Pets

How to build a hobby aquarium

Pets

How to build a hobby aquarium

Here are some fish facts from Jen Reynolds, a tropical freshwater aquarist at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. They'll get you started and prevent little Nemo from getting stressed.

• Use a tank that allows as much surface area as possible. Reynolds recommends a 30-gallon tank with a good filtration system.

• Pay close attention to water temperature. For tropical freshwater fish, 26.5 C to 28.5 C is appropriate. For cold-water fish, the temperature is a little different for each. For example, 14 C to 22 C for a goldfish.

• Create a habitat that suits your fishes' natural behaviours.

• Choose compatible fish (it's a fish-eat-fish world out there).

• Change 30 per cent of the tank water every two weeks.

Tropical freshwaterPlaty, $3 to $5Baby making: Live-bearer (has live babiesSwims: Near surfaceSocial habits: Prefers to be with others of its own kindFood: Tropical-fish community flakes and bloodwormsSpecial feature: Easy to tell males from females

Guppy, $3 to $6Baby making:Live-bearerSwims: Near surfaceSocial habits: Prefers to be with otherFood: Tropical-fish community flakes and bloodwormsSpecial feature: Easy to tell males from females

Corydoras catfish, $3 to $5 (rare varieties are more expensiveBaby making: Egg layerSwims: At bottomSocial habits: Prefers to have a couple of buddiesFood: Fish/catfish pellets (that will fall to the bottom) and bloodwormsSpecial feature: Searches around in the gravel

Flying fox, $3 to $10Baby making: Egg layerSwims: At all levelsSocial habits: Can be territorial with other of its kindFood: Tropical-fish community flakes and bloodwormsSpecial feature: Will eat algae from the glass and plants

Contests

Our 60-Day Holiday Countdown Giveaway is on!

From November 2 to December 31, 2016, we're giving away weekly prizes (for a total value of over $15,000) as part of our 60-Day Holiday Countdown.

For easy access to our weekly prizes, sign up for our 60-Day Holiday Countdown newsletters and you'll receive a daily email featuring a link to enter that week's contest, along with Tested Till Perfect holiday recipes, awesome gift guides, DIY decor ideas and more. You can enter to win each prize once daily until each contest closes.

You can enter to win this week's prize below, and see past contests and winners.

Beauty

These lip balms will make you forget dry, chapped lips

Beauty

These lip balms will make you forget dry, chapped lips

Cold temperatures and harsh winds can take a toll on your lips—and there is nothing sexy about a chapped mouth. The good news? Our favourite lip balms can help eliminate dry, sore and chapped lips. These affordable picks range from $4 to $32.

Culture & Entertainment

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

Culture & Entertainment

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

Whether you're on the hunt for a thoughtful gift that's sure to impress or simply a gift that can be delivered, your answer is easy: Go for subscription boxes.

They're trending hard in the gift department. So, what are subscription boxes exactly? Basically, there's a company out there (yes—in Canada, too!) that will bundle up specific things you're interested in and deliver them in a package right to your door. No matter what your thing is—beauty, sweets, wine, more wine—there's a subscription box for you.

Think about the people on your list and narrow down what makes them tick. Beauty buff? Get her a subscription to GLOSSYBOX. Goop-enthusiast? Mama Earth Organics. Coffee Lover? The Roasters Pack. Sweet tooth victim? Bakers Krate.

Treat your mom to Oh Mother's boxes, which will deliver pampering products to ensure she gets a little "me" time. For your daughter, Ellebox will help her get through that gloomy time of month, for the bookworm, Owl Box offers new young adult books and fun extras, and for the relative who's going through a difficult time, Caring Crate will help keep their spirit up.

And there's still plenty more subscription boxes to choose from.

Flip through the slideshow to find out some of the best boxes available to Canadians and learn about what each one has to offer.

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

For the Gwyneth in the group

Perfect for the Gwyneth-type—the one who juggles it all and is devoted to healthy, organic goods—will go crazy for this monthly subscription service. Mama Earth Organics offers healthy foods and fresh produce from local organic farms and will deliver right to her door.

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

For the one who can't come home for the holidays

Ensure your friend who's out-of-the-country doesn't get too homesick this holiday season with Expack's Canada box. It boasts classic Canadian treats—like ketchup chips, Coffee Crisps, and Flakies—that are beloved by everyone north of the border.

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

For the one with the sweet tooth

She'll probably be equally happy and mad at this gift: Bakers Krate delivers locally-sourced freshly baked goods (including cookies, brownies, and cupcakes), made by Canadian artisans, right to her front door.

Winning gift idea: Subscription boxes for everyone on your list

For the beauty buff

Help your beauty-loving bestie stay in-the-know with the classic, latest and greatest beauty finds with GLOSSYBOX. It brings makeup, hair, and skincare products to consumers’ doorsteps around the globe.